Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-11

pauses or even stop to take breath between
sentences when all the air was out of
his lungs he would give sudden spas
modic gasp for breath tn at could be heard
three rods away, aud then out would come
the stream of words faster than ever. Do
you imagine that he was using the speak
ing voice in this effort Not at all. His
tone was something between chant and
Il song, only the most rapid chant that
was ever heard, accompanied too by n
sort of a"walk around" dance on the plat
form. Louder grew the preachers voice,
and if possible more rapidly tumbed
forth the words, sense and nonsense blend
ed. The audience assisted with loud eiac-
ulations and with violent movements of
their legs hands, heads and bodies, keen
ing sort of time with the speakers
chant, until at length the very tip top of
his emotions, his elOquence and his physi-
cal strength was reached at the same
time Instantly, with a tremendous snort
and gasp for breath, the chant ceased,
and the speaker dropped into Il converse
tional one of voice. He did not descend
gradually from his lofty and dizzy height
of elOquence, but came down to common
place as suddenly as If the staircase had
given way and la ded him in the cellar.
The audience quoted down as the trOub-
led ocean after storm.
There are many amusing and very many
pleasing things one sees IN these darkeys
As Il RUE they are respectful and polite
When on my rides into the country |
meet up with Il colored man plodding
along on his mule, he smiles touches his
apology for Il hat and if it is after II
O'Clock in the day says good even. sab ~
The waiter at the hotel table, though his
apron bears too many coffee stains, is re-
sptCtiul and attentive as rule, and
really strives to SUIT you. The cOlOred
labOrer does not appear to be standing on
his dignity, or jealous lest his rights and
Il nab. Il
his employer. He goes about his work
chcerfulv if not swiftly. There are few
If any 'kuighs' among the negroes, and
very little of that knightly spirit that
characterizes the walking delegate and
his dupes, the laborers of the North.
The colored man likes u good many
holidays, to be sure and thinks Saturday
is made to 90 to the store and visit his
friends and Sunday to visit his friends
and 20 to church.
On the whole, then, the darkey makes
only a fair farm hand, and Il pretty poor
independent agrCulturist, but a good
teanlster, and first rate furnace man,
miner or cotton presser in fact he does
well when he works in gangs 50 that he
can sing and joke at his work. In all the
manufacturing industries the colored man
works side by side with the white man
and keeps up his end of the whille-tree.
He gets the same wages tor his work, the
same treatment from his employers, and
makes as much, even if he does not save
it, as wOrkmen of the same class in the
North. This position, am aware, differs
from that taken by the late presidential
candidate, Mr.. Blaine, but am sure that
it is the right one.
fear that this letter has become too
much of dissertation and the consid-
GRAFTON of other serious matters, such as
''booms' and agriculture, must be furth-
er postponed.
Meantime spring is coming on apace.
The blue grass and clover is from one to
! two inches high in favored places, pota-
toes are planted and early peas are up in
some of the gardens. 1t Is the ice carnl-
val season in Burlington | suppose, and
here | heard the first hooking bird last
evening. If you could only have your
winter carnlvals in warm weather with
plenty of sunshine and early straw berries,
| would like to attend them.
DR.. j. j. Barclay, for years the United
States consul to Judea, who lives IL miles
from this place, tells me that he raised
three crops from part OF his land last
year. He planted early potatoes in Feb
ruary and sent them to market the last
of May. He then planted corn and har-
vested it In September; then a large crop
OF volunteer potatoes came in and were
gathered for his own use, This makes a
very fair return from the land. The only
objection find to February weather III
this climate is the superabundance of
April showers.
W. f. FOREST.